Carbamate nerve agents protection

There are no published recommendations for isolation or protective action distances for carbamate nerve agents released in mass casualty situations. 

Even though carbamate nerve agents are rapidly detoxified or eliminated from the body, exposures may have a cumulative effect in the short-term, placing all responders who entered the hot zone without appropriate chemical protective clothing at increased risk during the remainder of the emergency. 

Immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH) levels are the ceiling limit for respirators other than SCBAs. However, IDLH levels have not been established for carbamate nerve agents. Therefore, any potential exposure to aerosols of these agents should be regarded with extreme caution and the use of SCBAs for respiratory protection should be considered. 

Currently, there is no information on performance testing of chemical protective clothing against carbamate nerve agents. Evaluation of fabrics used to prevent exposure to carbamate pesticides may provide guidance on selection of appropriate protective clothing. 

Carbamate Nerve Agents pose both a severe respiratory and severe contact hazard. Wear appropriate fully encapsulating protective gear with positive... 

Pyridostigmine is a carbamate that is used in the treatment of myasthenia gravis, a neuromuscular disease. It can also be used as a method of protection against nerve agent poisoning. Carbamates can occupy the catalytic site of acetylcholinesterase (AchE), which temporarily prevents phosphorylation. 

Miosis, pain, dim vision, and nausea can be relieved by topical atropine in the eye. Pretreatment with carbamates may protect the cholinesterase enzymes before nerve agent exposure. 

Miosis, pain, dim vision, and nausea can be relieved by topical atropine in the eye. Pretreatment with carbamates may protect the cholinesterase enzymes before nerve agent exposure. It is available in 30 mg tablets and the tablets should be administered every 8h. When used prior to exposure, it should be followed by atropine and pralidoxime chloride after exposure. 

The inadequacy of postexposure therapy for nerve agent casualties, particularly those with potentially lethal exposures to soman, has been of great concern. Development of pyridostigmine, a peripherally active carbamate compound, as a nerve agent pretreatment adjunct has substantially improved the ability of the U.S. military to protect its soldiers from the lethal effects of nerve agents. A major deficiency of this pretreatment program—that it does not protect the CNS against... 

---